The
Selous Game Reserve, with an area of about 55,000 sq. km, is the largest
well-watered wildlife sanctuary in Africa, and one of the largest protected
areas in the world. Its size is simply stunning, bigger than Switzerland,
uninhabited and little touched by human interference. It is perhaps the most
pristine wilderness still remaining in Africa, with a wide variety of wildlife
habitats, including open grasslands, Acacia and miombo woodlands, swamps and
riverine forests in the many tributaries of the mighty Rufiji River which
flows through the reserve. Due to its unique ecological importance, it was
designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1982. Its wildlife is
spectacular, with some of its mammal and reptile populations the largest in
Africa, namely buffaloes, elephants, hippos, wild dogs and crocodiles.

Other
wildlife include the wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, zebra, eland, the greater
kudu, sable antelopes, giraffe, baboon, the velvet and blue monkeys, and the
black and white Colobus monkey which can be seen in certain riverine forests
moving from tree to tree in family groups. There is a large population of
predators including lions, leopards, cheetah and the spotted hyena, and about
440 species of birds in the Selous, of both resident and migratory birds. Named
after Captain Frederick Courtney Selous, a legendary 19th century naturalist,
explorer and hunter, Selous Game Reserve was founded in 1905.

Selous
is situated in the southern part of Tanzania, bordered by Mikumi National Park
to the northwest and by Udzungwa Mountains National Park and Kibasira Swamp to
the west. The greater part of northern Selous is reserved for photographic safaris
and it is one of the most beautiful and game rich areas in the whole ecosystem.

The
Selous wilderness meets the kind of dream visitors have of Africa of the early European
explorers like Dr. Livingstone and Henry Stanley. The Reserve offers a wider
variety of game viewing opportunities to the visitor, including the thrilling
experience of a foot safari through game inhabited bushes in the company of an
armed ranger. The many waterways in the Reserve provide an excellent natural
setting for boat safaris, both for game viewing and bird watching. This is in
addition to the game drives in 4X4 motor vehicles which, combined with boat and
walking safaris, offer an exciting and richer game viewing itinerary unique to
the Selous Game Reserve. The best time to visit the Selous is from June to
October. During the long rains, between March and May, some parts of the Selous
become impassable and are temporarily closed for game drives.